'My wife makes lots of money. I'm smarter than you think!': Tom Brady on being underpaid in NFL
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady may be considered the NFL's GOAT, but when it comes to his earning power, he lags behind his NFL peers. But he says he's not worried, as he's not even the top earner in his own house.
Incredibly for a man who has won a record six Super Bowls, Brady is the 18th highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in terms of average contract value.
That puts him in the bottom half of quarterbacks in terms of earnings, and way behind fellow superstar play-callers Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks), Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) and Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons), who will earn more than double that sum thanks to bumper contracts signed over the last 18 months.
But Brady says he isn't concerned about his place in the NFL's money list, as he explained to US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
"That's a good question," he admitted.
"Usually, when I don't want to answer a question, I always say, 'That's a good question.'
"I think the thing I've always felt for me in my life, winning has been a priority. And my wife [supermodel Gisele Bundchen] makes a lot of money. I'm a little smarter than you think!" he grinned.
The NFL's spending rules for teams means each franchise only has a pre-set salary cap, which means teams with players on huge contracts have to make savings elsewhere on their roster.
It can mean franchises with the highest-paid players don't always have the strongest teams, as they have to rely on unproven rookies on cheap contracts, or lower-paid players who don't command such high salaries, in order to balance the salary cap.
Brady said his decision not to push hard for the biggest contract in the NFL only serves to help him in his bid to win more honors in the sport.
"You can only spend so much and the more that one guy gets is less for others. And for a competitive advantage standpoint, I like to get a lot of good players around me."
Brady will suit up for the Patriots as a 43-year-old, and he says he has no intention of slowing down just yet as he bids to add a seventh Super Bowl title to his incredible list of honors.
"Not to this point," he said.
"To be at the top and give your team a chance to win every season, you have to put a lot into it. I try to bring my best every day.
"I try to be the best teammate, leader and also physically to stay prepared. No one wants someone that's taking up space.
"I've played a long time. Six [Super Bowls], I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams having achieved that. As a competitor, you get to line up and get to go after it again.
"Damn it, I want to win! What's wrong with winning?!"
